Midland man dies in 2-vehicle crash

Published 8:35 am, Sunday, April 3, 2016

A 58-year-old Midland man died Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 158, seven miles west of Midland, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Edward James Pittinger was driving a Mercedes GL 450 eastbound on SH 158, and his car was hit by a westbound Kenworth truck tractor and towed unit that entered into the other lane.

Pittinger’s passenger, a 61-year-old Midland woman, was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital with “non-incapacitating” injuries, according to the release from DPS. The truck driver, a 49-year-old Midland man, was not injured.

Both drivers and the passenger were wearing seat belts, according to the release.

It was raining at the time of the crash, and the posted speed limit is 75 mph, according to the release.

Pittinger is the fourth person to die on roads in Midland County this year, according to Reporter-Telegram records. The most recent fatality was March 21, when a 39-year-old Red Oak man died in a wreck involving two Kenworth trucks pulling trailers on Farm-to-Market Road 1379, 18 miles southeast of Midland, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article.

The number of fatal crashes has decreased significantly over the past three years, according to Reporter-Telegram records. At this time last year, there had been five fatal wrecks on roads in Midland County. In 2014, there had been 12 wrecks and in 2013, there had been 14.